Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

More Backyard Birds in our Yard

On January 23rd,  I shared pictures of 7 different varieties of birds in our backyard.  Today,  I will share 7 different ones.   I love my backyard birds and am so thankful that I can feed them --especially in winter.   Here are today's photos.  Above is my all-time favorite bird (besides the Bluebirds of course).  This big guy is a PILEATED WOODPECKER.  These are very large birds ---but they do a good job of getting to the suet feeder several times a day.  (Enlarge for larger pictures.)




Here is one of our MOURNING DOVES  eating in the plate feeder.   Luckily,  we don't have any nearby hawks around here... (I've only seen them in my yard ONE TIME since we moved here.)  Hawks love to eat  those bigger birds, like Doves...  The Crows (and their squawking) protect our birds from hawks around here I think...




Here is another favorite bird of mine,  a NORTHERN YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER.   This is not the best picture I have of our Flickers ---but since I am showing 2012 photos,  this one will have to do for today... They are such beautiful birds,  and are in the woodpecker family.




The birds that come to the feeders in huge groups this winter are our FINCHES.....  Sometimes they are at all 5 feeders PLUS the plate feeder PLUS a bunch below on the deck... I haven't counted the total,  but we may have up to 75-100 of them at one time... Talk about eating us out of house and home!!!!  Those little guys can EAT....  We have mostly GOLDFINCHES this year,  with some House Finches mixed in.... I haven't seen any Pine Siskins here this year,  but there was a year when we had this many Pine Siskins around...  As I said,  LOTS of finches!!!!!   Above,  you can see just a few of them in the plate.




Another favorite woodpecker who is with us year-round (like the Pileateds and Downys) is our RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER.   Pictured above is one of them --and you can actually see a little of his red belly!!!




You might not think that ROBINS come to the bird feeders ---but they certainly do during the winter... Here's one of those beauties on the plate...  They will eat suet and  the 'Nuts and Fruits Blend' which I put in the plate.




Here's a great picture of a female HOUSE FINCH.  The males are much prettier (with their red coloring) ---but this little gal is gorgeous too, don't you think???




Finally,  I can't do a bird post without showing you another picture of my favorite bird in the world,  the EASTERN BLUEBIRD...  SO--here's one more for you!!!!!  Isn't he just precious????

Hope you enjoyed seeing more of our January Backyard birds...   I have been taking alot of pictures this month ---so there will be more to come!!!!!

Have a wonderful day.  Can you believe that it is February ALREADY???  Where did January go?????

We have been out-of-town for two days ---so I haven't been able to make any comments this week.  Will try to catch up soon!!!!! 

Hugs,
Betsy

60 comments:

Ms. A said...

I can't believe you have so many different varieties of birds. I never see that many here!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I like the mourning dove, and of course, the bluebird!

DeniseinVA said...

The Pileated Woodpecker is very striking but love all these little birds you've taken. A nice way to start my morning, thanks Betsy.

Anonymous said...

Are you and George going to participate in the Backyard Bird Watch this year?

Arkansas Patti said...

I haven't seen any Pileateds here but in Florida they were plentiful. Huge birds.
You really feed a nice mix. Best mine get is the oiled sunflower seeds. My are they are expensive this year. Since the weather has been so nice, I have been able to cut back some what on the amount I feed. I have about 19 cardinals every day.

mamahasspoken said...

I agree with Ms A. I never knew there were so many different types of birds in one yard. I had to take my bird feeder down because I lost the lid and the seed kept getting wet. Besides the only birds I was getting on a regular bases were the crows...

Mr. Bill said...

What blessings you share!! Thanks. Hope you are enjoying this winter!!....I am.

diane b said...

So many back yard birds. You are lucky. I still love the woodpecker's red crash helmet the best. Although your favourite little blue fellow is pretty cute.

Janice K said...

You seem to have birds we only see in the summer time. While we have been here in St. Louis, I have been amazed to see the robins, but I guess maybe they don't fly as far south as I always thought. It has been so warm here the last couple of days that their morning song makes you think it is spring--but it can't be.

Beautiful pictures--I miss my birds back home.

Ruth Hiebert said...

I love seeing all your birds. My feeders are not very busy and I miss the birds. I think that because of the lack of snow they are finding food elsewhere. :(

MadSnapper said...

stunning header shot, love love the finches and the blue bird. i don't see those down here. the month of feb makes me feel so old. my sons will be 47 on the 14th and 45 on the 22nd

Neal said...

You've sure got some great pictures of bird. Of course, like you, my favorite is the bluebird.

linda m said...

You always post such beautiful pictures of your birds. Thanks.

pam said...

I wish we got more bluebirds around here.

LV said...

How fortunate you live in a bird paradise.

TexWisGirl said...

all of these shots are beautiful! that pileated is GORGEOUS up close and personal! :)

Karin said...

Love your fabulous birds! Some of those we never see here and of course, the others, only in the summer time! Yes, you do live in a bird paradise! Thanks so much for sharing your feathered friends with us! Have an awesome day!

Snap said...

Betsy, are you getting ready for the backyard bird count this month? Sure looks like it!!! Lovely shots.

Dorothy said...

All of your pictures are gorgeous, Betsy!! I would really like to see more woodpeckers, and I especially like the big Pileated One!

Out on the prairie said...

What a charming set of friends. I love them all.

imac said...

Pretty birds and sharp shots Betsy.

HolleyGarden said...

Loved seeing your bird pictures. I was so excited to see a bluebird myself the other day! I laughed when you said the birds could eat you out of house and home. They do eat a lot, and I've always wondered how the saying "eat like a bird" came to be, when in reality it seems just the opposite!

happyone said...

How nice that you get to see so many beautiful birds stopping by. Great photos as always.

Jane said...

The eastern blue bird is beautiful,you have so many different birds to enjoy,my sister used to live at a place where we would sit out on the front porch,and we could hear birds,but couldn't see them,they sounded just like water gurgling,I have always wondered what species they were,havn't herd them since. Blessings Jane

Mary said...

It always amazes me that your pileated woodpecker comes to the feeders! Lucky you!

Debbie Taillieu said...

I just want to come and camp out in your backyard and take pictures! I'm thinking Tennessee has the most variety of birds anywhere! I'm looking forward to landscaping my new backyard in Reno this spring. Hoping to attract the Quail, Candian Geese and whatever else flies around here. LOL!

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!
Love,
Debbie

Ginny Hartzler said...

Your header is actually my fave of the day! I visited you yesterday just to check, and got a sneak peek of it then, it is fabulous! My fave birds here are the sweet bluebird and the red-bellied!

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Great shots- I love the last one- pretty bluebird!

Ann said...

Those are all wonderful shots. you sure do get a good variety at your feeders. My favorite of all of them is still that sweet little bluebird

Sylvia K said...

Oh, such beautiful birds!! And such fantastic captures, Betsy! You do wonders with the camera! Happy February! I can't believe it's here already either!!

Sylvia

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, Oh those woodpecker pictures are just super! Have a really nice day tomorrow - I think we will maybe have better weather coming up.

JDS said...

Great pictures Betsy, thanks for sharing them. I too am a big fan of pileated woodpeckers and Eastern bluebirds. We have lots of pileateds in Florida, and other woodpeckers just pale in comparison.

Unfortunately we have very few bluebirds. I have only seen one down here and that was five or six years ago. When I saw him, I wondered if he came here by mistake after taking a wrong turn in Pennsylvania or something.

I am looking forward to more "feathered photos" so I hope your suet keeps bringing the birds to you!

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

I especially love the pileated woodpecker and the beautiful eastern bluebird. Great shots.

Catherine said...

I am happy my little nuthatches are back. Watching the birds make me happy! :)
xo Catherine

Anonymous said...

My favorites from your post were the woodpeckers!

Connie said...

Great pictures, Betsy! I think that pretty little bluebird is my favorite too. :)

Anonymous said...

I remembered that you were on the road this week - hope you had a nice time. Sleep tight!

Chatty Crone said...

What a colorful backyard you have my friend. Why do Hawks like the bog ones and not the little ones?
And I love the woodpeckers. And the Eastern Bluebird. And I thought Robins were ground feeders only. Birds are amazing. sandie

Shug said...

My favorite? The red headed wood pecker! Beautiful!
hugs,
Shug

Donna said...

They are all so grand! Beautiful tweeters!!!

Angela said...

I did not know that the Eastern Bluebird would eat from the suet feeders! I've never seen them at mine. If I feed a mixed seed I end up with lots of morning doves which the dogs chase so I like the sunflower seeds better for here so no one gets hurt. I have only bought the birds 1 bag of seed this year because it has went up to double what I paid for it before. There are just too many birds here that I'd be buying a bag a week and spending over $100 a month feeding them! I hate not feeding them like I used to but it has been a very mild winter and there are lots of bugs and even worms out there for them to get. Plus I need them to eat the bugs! That's why I started feeding them in the first place so they would be in the yard and eat the bugs too! It was a win win!

Glenda said...

I always enjoy your wonderful bird photos! I'm loving watching the flurry of birds at our feeders. The robins are getting closer and closer to the feeders - a first for us!

carolina nana said...

Nice bird pics. I saw a new bird at one of my suet feeders yesterday but didn't get a picture. It was a Hairy woodpecker, it looked like a giant downy,wish I had had my camera near by cause I haven't seen it since.
It is raining again here tonight but is supposed to be beautiful tomorrow.I guess the groundhog will see his shadow !!!
Blessings to you
Marilyn

Diane said...

Well, that's a new one to me. Thanks for sharing the robin and what he's eating. He sure is a classy looking bird, isn't he. Those finches are so cute and so is the bluebird. Very beautiful and dramatic header Betsy. Diane

SquirrelQueen said...

Every time you show a photo of those cute little Eastern Bluebirds the more I fall in love with them. Wish they would visit the West Coast.

I love seeing all your little bird friends Betsy.

penny said...

It is always a joy to see the beautiful birds that visit your bird feeders.
Miss Precious Eastern Bluebird in my favorite also, Betsy.
Hugs,
Pam :)

Anonymous said...

What charming feathered friends you have.

Cuby said...

What a fabulous variety of birds come to your feeders, thanks for sharing.

Lynn said...

Hi Betsy, Knew you two were out having fun this week! Such stunning pictures of so many varieties of little birds. We have morning doves, and I so love them, but the bluebird will always steal my heart. Have to say that February's rose with water droplets is just stunning as I turned the page of our calendar yesterday. Thank you again dear friend. Blessings.

Gracie said...

So lovely! Wish we have it here in Norway, and of course my camera :( keep it up Betsy, God bless!

Anonymous said...

They're all so cute, but I love the finches! =)

Happy weekend =)

amy @ Life in Pink Hi-Tops said...

So many beautiful birds in your yard. I don't think we have that many different kinds. I saw two mourning doves sitting on our roof which is covered in pine straw. I hope they weren't thinking of making that their home.....LOL!!

Fred Alton said...

Always love seeing your bird pictures, Betsy! You have some of the best backyard bird pictures I've seen anywhere. Feeding them must be expensive in the winter. I always try to put out a few table scraps and apple peels and cores, etc. when it's so bitterly cold. We have several birds come for it.

LV said...

It is not fair that have all the pretty birds and get to enjoy them. We have a few, but none now and never a sight like this.

CottonLady said...

Beautiful birds, Betsy! Blessings!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

I love watching the birds. It's hard to keep the feeders filled up in the winter. Since this has been a mild winter, they've not been at the feeders quite as much. I haven't take many photos of them this year, but I've enjoyed yours!
Can't wait to see where you've been!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I love all your bird visitors, Betsy! Hope you've been enjoying yiur travels and i know you will coem back with soem wonderful photos. Have a great weekend!

S. Etole said...

These are beautiful. There have been mostly chickadees and nuthatches here this winter with an occasional blue jay and woodpecker. Now I know where they go for the winter!

A Colorful World said...

Love the flicker, especially! What a wonderful array of birds, and such great photos of them! Glad you are "back" Betsy! Thanks so much for your sweet comments on my blogpost!

Twilight Man said...

Betsy, you are such a darling and kind person who really love birds and nature! You always think of the birds during winter too! I am so proud to know you.